Hand wrought nail

Hand wrought nail

Figure 917. Hand wrought nail

Two views of a nail from the door of the J. Eli Gregg con barn, ca. 1836. The nail was bent to hold a cross piece on the barn door. The photographs are enlarged to show the signs that suggest that this nail was made by a blacksmith - the irregular shape of the head and the shank that is tapered equally on all sides. Soft wrought iron was extremely malleable, and could be "clenched" or bent over after passing through wood so it would not easily pull out. Photo 1984.